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Walter Shapiro

Walter Shapiro is a staff writer at The New Republic and a lecturer in political science at Yale. He has been a columnist for USA Today and Esquire and has covered politics for Time, Newsweek, and The Washington Post. He has published two books, performed standup comedy in New York, and was a White House speechwriter for Jimmy Carter.

All Articles
October 8, 2020
Walter Shapiro
A Petulant Trump Squanders His Best Chance for a Breakthrough
By skipping the next presidential debate, the president is signing his own death warrant.
October 2, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Biden Should Be Worried
Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis has scrambled the presidential race irrevocably.
September 30, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Desperation of Donald Trump
His unhinged debate performance is a sign that he knows he’s losing.
September 19, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Can Senate Democrats Run Out the Clock on Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee?
They should be able to delay until after the election—and if they take back the Senate in November, McConnell may not be able to get anyone confirmed.
September 14, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Democrats’ Excessive Bed-Wetting Over Joe Biden’s Campaign
The party fears another Trump upset, and political journalists crave drama. That’s a perfect storm for a misleading media narrative.
September 4, 2020
Walter Shapiro
America Is Not Reliving 1968
Sure, Donald Trump is harnessing Richard Nixon’s law and order rhetoric, but that doesn’t mean it will work.
August 28, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Republicans Still Don’t Know How to Run Against Biden
They’ve been trying to paint themselves as the party of inclusion, but Trump’s speech doubled down on the politics of fear.
August 27, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Mike Pence Is a Parody of a Politician
He praised his Dear Leader’s reign, while also insisting that America needed to be saved yet again.
August 26, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Surprising Boredom of Trump’s Circus Show
If the Republican convention were a TV series, it would be canceled mid-season.
August 21, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Joe Biden Finds His Voice
The former vice president has spent a career looking for the right words. Last night, he found them.
August 20, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Puzzlingly Substanceless Democratic Convention
This should’ve been the perfect opportunity for Democrats to lay out their governing agenda, but it took them three days to talk about policy.
August 18, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Democrats Choose Politics Over Ideological Purity
On the first night of its convention, the party showed it will invite anyone under its big tent in order to defeat Trump.
August 17, 2020
MagazineWalter Shapiro
Joe Biden’s Great Reclamation Project
The veteran politician weighs how best to launch a presidency amid unprecedented crises.
August 12, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Unlikely Bond Between Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
She’s a natural talent at American politicking, just like he is.
August 2, 2020
Walter Shapiro
What Joe Biden Wants
Each of the main vice presidential contenders offers a different skill set. What Biden needs is someone to help him govern.
July 29, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Stop Fretting About Biden’s VP Choice
It won’t be what makes or breaks his chances against Trump.
June 21, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Trump Is Terrorizing America
His reelection campaign is going to be all about one thing: fear. The Tulsa rally was just the beginning.
June 16, 2020
Walter Shapiro
Trump’s Potemkin Reelection Campaign
The president’s advisers are working to convince him he’s beloved and winning. It couldn’t be further from the truth. 
June 10, 2020
MagazineWalter Shapiro
Mitch McConnell Is No Genius
He still supports Trump and worships campaign donors. It may cost Republicans their Senate majority.
June 8, 2020
Walter Shapiro
The Revolt of the Center-Right
Prominent Republicans are balking at voting for Trump. Could it cost him the election?

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